GARY O'HANLON

Since 2008 Gary O'Hanlon has been Head Chef at Viewmount House, Longford, which won the Georgina Campbell Award for Restaurant of the Year 2014.

Gary has fused his knowledge of traditional Irish cooking with the skills he honed in Boston, and both are clearly evident in his culinary style. The result is a repertoire of modern classic dishes which never fails to impress, and has helped to make VM Restaurant at Viewmount House a destination in its own right.

Gary hails from Ramelton in Co. Donegal and began his career in The Rosapenna Hotel in Downings aged just 15, from there he moved to the famous Tourism College Killybegs before working around Ireland from La Cave in Dublin to Stormont Hotel in Belfast.

Taking a leap of faith Gary then went stateside, to Boston, Massachusetts, where he spent 6 years opening and establishing Devlin's Restaurant. During this time and at the young age of 23, Gary was named as one of Boston's best.

Later that year, Gary returned to Ireland, where he began working at The Olde Post Inn Cavan, which won Best Restaurant Ulster from Food & Wine Magazine and Georgina Campbell's Ireland Guide. It was some years later in 2008, Gary left to set up VM @ Viewmount House in County Longford. Quickly establishing itself as one of Ireland's finest award-winning restaurants.

Gary joined TV3 show "The Restaurant" three years ago where he is seen putting the celebrity guests through their culinary paces.